In a back and forth game, the Trojans came up short on the scoreboard, but the effort, including a 5-0 run in the final 34 seconds of regulation, was encouraging to head coach Andy Enfield. "We played very hard today, and had a chance to win. As a coach, that's all you can ask for," he said. "Unfortunately, Stanford made some tough shots in overtime to beat us." Chasson Randle, who is the leading scorer in Pac-12 play, was held to 10 points in regulation, but he was the difference maker in overtime scoring seven points. As a team, the Cardinal made 4/5 field goals and 8/10 free throws in OT.

Energetic But Cold

USC's defense kept the Trojans in the game, but the perimeter scorers were never able to get into a consistent offensive rhythm. Byron Wesley made 6/15 shots uncharacteristically missing an assortment of his patented leaners in the paint. Pe'Shon Howard, who had seven steals, and J.T. Terrell, who led the team with eight rebounds, combined to make just 2/10 from three-point range. "Some of those are shots that we usually make or should make a higher
percentage of," said Enfield. "They played smart and took good shots, but you just have
to make some of those."

Positive Home Stand

After starting Pac-12 play with five blowout losses, the Trojans responded this week by beating Cal and pushing Stanford to overtime. Howard credited the home crowd for changing the momentum of the conference season, but the road does not get any easier with a trip to the Oregon schools due up next. "We have to prepare for the road where it is just us," the senior point guard said. Enfield was also buoyed by the home stand but knows the task only gets tougher from here. "This is the Pac-12," he said. "You need to win on the road in this league in order to have a good record, and we need to go try to do that."